The Awakening (Easter, April)

Easter 2021, (4 April - 1 May). See the Resource Pack PDF for information on the weekly subthemes and the daily prompts and Bible readings which shape our Daily Worship. See the Discussion Group Questions PDF to see the material adapted for small Connect groups.

There are periods in the history of humanity when those living through times of great transition feel something has happened to change the whole destiny of the world. The physical and spiritual and psychological effect of the resurrection had such an effect. It was said of the first Christians that they turned the known world upside down with their convincing beliefs that God had come into the world in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. They claimed it was an awakening of the human spirit to a new world order.

This month we too are looking for a new world order because we believe that we are simply reflecting the longing in so many hearts today for the renewal of the church. We’re starting to talk about a season of awakening. A time when the Holy Spirit is going to draw near to us all and bring about a renewal of faith. We truly believe we are living in such a moment again. It can’t be the same as other times but it is a ‘shaking of the foundations moment’. There is a stirring in the air, across the world, like a changing of the guard, no one can quite put their finger on it, but we know when we come out of lockdown — lockdown will have transformed everything. Nothing will quite ever be the same again.

During the next four weeks of April we are going to invite our writers to pick up on the analogy of ‘An Awakening’ a realisation that the time for dreaming has past and we are longing for a visitation of the Almighty. One that will heal our broken world. A visitation based not on privilege or power or historical advantage but based on the deep knowledge that God is longing to reconcile his creation to himself and to each other. Our key text for the month is found in Revelation 3:2 where the Risen Christ speaks to the Church at Sardis saying “Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.”

• In week one we remind ourselves that the resurrection of Jesus is the beginning of God’s new project to renew all of his creation.
• In week two we think of the unity that is created within Community out of Communion.
• In week three we look at the spiritual power that is available to the community of God’s people through the Holy Spirit.
• In week four we focus on our core calling as God’s people to be followers of Jesus.

Each week of the four week theme runs Sunday-Saturday and has its own subtheme, which contains daily Bible readings and thought triggers (see the Resource Pack PDF for more information). See the Discussion Group Questions PDF to see the material adapted for small Connect groups.